Vision For Global Nanoscale Science And Engineering Education

Vision for Global Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education

R.P.H. Chang Director, National Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT)

Northwestern University

Outline • Global Challenges over the next 30 years

• Challenges facing US STEM education • What can NSEE do? • Global Nanotechnology Network

• About this Workshop

Over the Next 30 Years… • Oil production will peak – Need “green energy” development

• Global warming – Need advanced environmental protection systems

• Increase in population density – Global health protection issues (food, water, disease control, etc.)

• Nanotechnology will play a significant role in global energy, environment, health, and economic development. – The world will soon need over 2 M nanoworkers

To address these challenges, our citizens must learn to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Think critically and make sound judgments Solve complex, multidisciplinary, open-ended problems Create and launch new enterprises Communicate and collaborate effectively Make innovative use of knowledge, information and opportunities 6. Take charge of financial, health and civic responsibilities * Source: 21st Century Skills, Education & Competitiveness Report by Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2008)

 NCLT trains the next generation of nano-literate workers with these 21st Century skills to maintain a US competitive edge in the new nanotech economy.

STEM Challenges in the US • STEM education is the building block for the knowledge-intensive global economy of the 21st century • Continued global achievement gap between U.S. students (even our top performing students) and their international peers • Less than 40% of US 25-34 year olds are college graduates, compared to nearly 55% in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Korea. *Source: Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

Basic Challenges in STEM Education • Educating a science-literate citizenry is critical to continued US success in the global economy • Secondary institutions must adapt to a world altered by technology, changing demographics and globalization – Several national studies confirm the insufficient preparation of high school graduates for either collegelevel work or the changing needs of the workforce. – Low proficiency performance level, only 1/3 of 4th and 8th grade students reached the proficiency levels for their grades. Even fewer 12th grade students did.

Funding Challenges in K-12 STEM Education

• Spending increases have not produced an increase in high school achievement rates 1. US spending at all-time high – 49% increase over past 20 years

2. Since 1985, real federal spending on K-12 education has increased by 138% 3. Only 17% of seniors are considered proficient in mathematics 4. Only 36% are proficient in reading

Teacher Challenges in K-12 STEM Education • A paucity of teachers who have the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively teach these subjects • Inadequate teacher compensation and professional development to attract, prepare and retain highquality teachers

• Lack of interdisciplinarity - Subjects are taught in a compartmentalized manner and teachers are isolated within discipline-based departments

Student Challenges in K-12 STEM Education • Students generally lack motivation and have low self confidence in learning STEM subjects • Persistent achievement gaps in science and math among many student subgroups • Sweeping demographic changes will exacerbate the gaps – Racial and ethnic minorities will comprise the majority of the nation’s population by 2042

Meeting at the Nanoscale Biology

Chemistry

Tools to Image & Manipulate at the Nanoscale • 1982 Scanning Tunneling Microscope • 1986 Atomic Force Microscope Macro • 1991 NSOM Scale

Physics

Engineering

Nano 100 nm Scale 1nm

Engineering

Physics

Sub-Atomic Scale

Tools to Fabricate at the Nanoscale • Lithography (optical, e-beam, print) • Focused Ion Beam • Vapor Deposition • Self-Assembly

Chemistry

Biology

NSEE is Unique! • It is interdisciplinary by nature • Unique nano-phenomena will intrigue learners and teachers • Nanoconcepts can enhance STEM learning • NSEE can equip 21st century workers for global economic development

• Partner Networks in Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe • GNN development workshops – 2001 (Mexico), 2003 (Japan), 2005 (Germany), 2009 (??) • Diverse stakeholders in academia, industry, and government

Education is major project strand of the GNN!

About this Workshop

• The Goal of this Workshop - Develop a global NSEE community that will greatly enhance NSEE learning and teaching. • Vision - use this community to work together to train the next generation of nanotechnology workers and global leaders to solve the challenges facing our world.

About this Workshop

This workshop brings together nano researchers and educators from 14 countries to share experience and best practices in NSEE via: – – – – –

Plenary and Keynote Lectures Panel Discussions Poster Sessions Group Breakout Sessions Group Reporting